Raiding The Vinyl Archive

Intermission

2011-08-10T20:19:00.001+01:00

As you have no doubt noticed this blog is in the middle of a summer break. I’ve been finding it hard to find the time or inclination to blog since returning from Scotland way back in June. This lethargy coupled with having to deal with three kids on their summer holiday means thing are not likely to improve in the immediate future.

Normal service will be resumed…one day…probably.

Meanwhile, for your enjoyment here’s Bill Nelson playing ‘For Stuart’ at his recent ‘Legends’ show at Metropolis studios. The Stuart in question is Stuart Adamson of The Skids and Big Country.

To cut a long story short this reminds me of something…

2011-07-01T13:15:00.003+01:00

Dave from Planet Mondo declared last Fridays offering “the most eighties sounding record I’ve ever heard.” This is another candidate from 1981. It occupies the same musical territory as the first two Spandau Ballet singles.

That’s considered a good thing around these parts.

To Kalon - Coming To Get You (Dance Mix) (4:49) (1981)
To Kalon - Coming To Get You (3:41) (1981)

I recommend the short version for a quick fix. The longer version is a classic early 80s extended mix with echo-y drums and vocals.

Pretend a stranger is my friend

2011-06-24T18:52:00.002+01:00

This is a record I got from ebay for 99p a few weeks ago. It was advertised as rare English synthpop and I had never heard of it so I thought I would give it a go. It’s from 1985 so when she sings ‘Pretend a stranger is my friend’ she’s not referring to Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc. but that’s what the title makes me think of. That and the love-in that’s developed under my Jeanette post.

Talking Drums - Pretend A Stranger (1985)

Jeanette

2011-05-27T17:45:00.003+01:00

I promised you all something special and here it is. These lovely minimalist songs are by Jeanette, real name Jeanette Dwyer (possibly related to Gary Dwyer of Teardrop Explodes) also known simply as Jean on This Mortal Coil’s Filigree & Shadow album.

According to Discogs she recorded three singles and two albums between 1983 and 1988. This is the only one I’ve got but I love both sides so much I really must rectify that. Expect some more tunes when I do.

Side one features just vocals, synthesiser and percussion, side two just multilayered vocals and percussion. It’s close but I think I like the b-side best.

Jeanette - In The Morning (1983)
Jeanette - Sun Arises (1983)

There probably won’t be a tune next Friday because I’ll be in Scotland by then. There’s a record shop called Groucho’s always visit when I’m up there so I hope to come back with something interesting.

Raiding the proggy archive

2011-05-25T19:20:00.004+01:00

It’s been a while since I pissed people off by indulging in my penchant for progressive rock (of the symphonic kind). All you conscientious objectors will have to be patient and you will be duly rewarded with something special on Friday.

The concept of this record is brilliant; a medley of The Dambusters March and Land of Hope & Glory on a blue vinyl record that resembles the RAF symbol. The actual execution of the medley doesn’t totally work for me but there are lots of things to enjoy: The proggy guitar overture at the start, the Dambusters March, the playful segue with its snippet of The Sailors Hornpipe and the final few chords are all great but the Land of Hope & Glory part is like a sample from Last Night of the Proms and all that flag waving shit, which is the point of course but I just hate that song.

I’ve actually always prefered the b-side which is a lovely version of The Skyeboat Song.

The Enid - Dambusters March/Land Of Hope & Glory (1979)

The Enid - The Skyeboat Song (1979)

Mind Made

2011-05-21T20:45:00.002+01:00

It’s been a while since I featured a more guitar based new wave record. This one’s from 1980 and has an XTC-ish quality without quite having their verve and panache. That’s not to say it’s a bad record. This single may require a couple of listens but trust me it’s a grower. My advice is to play it loud.

Google doesn’t throw much light on Thieves Like Us except the drummer on this record is John Parish who went on to play on several P J Harvey records.

Thieves Like Us - Mind Made (1980)

Another request (sort of)

2011-05-14T19:21:00.003+01:00

This is for Paul who left a comment on my Bethnal post to the effect that a Friday disco workout would be welcome. I haven’t had one of those for a while but for reasons that will become apparent this one had to wait for a Saturday.

This is one of the five disco 12 inchers I got from a charity shop back in February. It’s my 2nd favourite but it’s also the one in least good condition. This was obvious at the time but with Norma Jean Wright from Chic singing and Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards producing there’s no way I was leaving it there.

Norma Jean - Saturday (Remix) (1978)

According to the label it’s 129 B.P.M. for those who care about such things.

Request (again)

2011-05-13T17:59:00.002+01:00

I posted this last night but Blogger went offline for maintenance purposes and it disappeared. Fortunately I had a back-up.

I may not be the fastest blogger in the west but I get there in the end. These two are for Kaggsy who requested them way back in April when I posted another song from the same LP.

There’s not a lot of information on the web about Eddie Maelov & Sunshine Patterson. They were previously in Gloria Mundi and…that’s about it. Couldn’t find a decent picture either.

As with a lot of their contemporaries there seems to be a Velvet Underground influence at work on these songs.

Eddie Maelov & Sunshine - Patterson Man For Sale (1981)
Eddie Maelov & Sunshine - Patterson Echo (1981)

Both from Fools Rush In Where Angels Dare To Tread recorded live at Cabaret Futura in spring 1981.

At least before it vanished Kaggsy downloaded the songs and sent thanks.

This week I have been mostly listening to…Fashion

2011-05-06T17:33:00.003+01:00

As I’ve mentioned before I was sure in the early 80s that Fashion were going to cross over and be huge. With hindsight I should have known it wasn’t going to happen by the time today’s tune was released. If the excellent Move On and Streetplayer couldn’t crack the singles chart there was little hope for this, the 3rd or 4th choice single from the Fabrique LP.

This is the 7.30min 12-inch version which possibly stretches things too far. You can hear the original on the re-issue of Fabrique (plus bonus tracks) called The Height Of Fashion available from the usual outlets. I’ve been grooving to it all week in my car.

Fashion - Something In Your Picture (Motor Drive) (1982)

Bonus Saturday post because I missed Friday

2011-04-30T21:04:00.001+01:00

Belatedly got a copy of the Hicks From The Sticks sampler today (about 30 years too late as it happens) so you’re likely to see the odd song from that LP popping up here over the next few months.

For starters how about this lovely XTC sound-a-like from Airkraft. I believe they only ever released one single and I can’t find any pictures of them on the internet to illustrate this post.

Airkraft - Move In Rhythm (1980)

Depeche Mode with balls

2011-04-22T21:29:00.003+01:00

There’s not a lot of information about Makaton Chat on the internet. The best place to look is this site written by a former member (and where I got the picture). The best description I’ve read of them is “Depeche Mode with balls.”

These three songs are from the same 12-inch single. Federal State Chance was the A-side but I’m not sure if that would have been my choice. There’s not a lot to choose between them.

Makaton Chat - Federal State Chance (1982)
Makaton Chat - It’s His Life Story (Hail The Wild!) (1982)
Makaton Chat - Communicate (1982)

Anthony Lindo – keyboards, lead vocal
John Hodgson – keyboards, backing vocal
Paul Fowler – drums
Richard Holmes – bass guitar

This band was from Teeside. Did you know I lived in Teeside from 1988 to 1990? I’ll tell you about it one day

Forgot I had this...

2011-04-15T14:05:00.002+01:00

Found today’s song on the ‘Fools Rush In Where Angels Dare To Tread’ compilation LP which mostly consists of live performances of varying quality recorded at the Cabaret Futura club in spring 1981. The sort of thing you would expect to find on this blog in fact. The main reason I haven’t featured this LP before is I’ve hardly played it in the 30 years I’ve had it. I think when I bought it I was expecting more of a ‘Some Bizarre Album’ compilation. I know some of the songs weren’t ‘electronic’ enough for me at the time.

The only studio track is Don’t Hide In The Shadows by Kissing The Pink which was also their debut single. I’ve no idea if this differs from the single version but I suspect it’s the same mix as it’s produced my Martin Hannett.

Kissing The Pink - Don’t Hide In The Shadows (1981)

As always all comments are welcome.

Two from Bethnal

2011-04-08T19:46:00.003+01:00

I get a fair few hits on this blog from people searching for Bethnal LPs Dangerous Times and Crash Landing. Google brings them here because I featured their fantastic Don’t Do It single back in 2007. Those LPs are on my shopping list but I still haven’t got them. Until then in a blatant attempt to increase my hit rate and court popularity I’ve decided to re-up that record and Nothing New.

Bethnal had been around since 1972 and by all accounts (e.g. BrotheRay’s) were a formidable and energetic live act. They were signed to Vertigo in the late 70s and promoted as a punk band, which they clearly weren’t. An otherwise excellent article here suggests they were more of a hard rock band who should have been promoted on the back of the NWOBHM scene but I can’t agree with that either. It seems to me they were caught in that nether region between new and old wave. This wasn’t necessarily terminal, Don’t Do It for example is in the same musical sphere as Dr Feelgood or The Pirates and they did alright, but they never found their audience. Nothing New is nowhere near as energetic as Don’t Do It but it does feature the violin playing of singer George Csapo, which separated them from the crowd or perhaps alienated people. I hold the former view, Csapo suspects the latter.

Bethnal - Dont Do It (1978) From Dangerous Times

Bethnal - Nothing New (1978) From Crash Landing

Any lurkers out there who enjoy this post please leave a comment. I love hearing from all the regulars but it would be nice hear some other voices. C’mon, don’t be shy.

Last Man In Europe

2011-04-01T18:38:00.003+01:00

Another from my seemingly, and in fact almost literally, endless pile of early 80s New Wave/postpunk/synthpop/electronic records.

This is another Bill Nelson production I was saving for the Cocteau Records feature that never happened. This was Coq 2 (Coq 1 being the magnificent Do You Dream In Colour?).

The main influence here appears to be The Cure (or maybe it’s coincidence), especially A Certain Bridge which like many early Cure records gets into a groove and doesn’t really go anywhere, so if you don’t like the first minute you might want to hit the stop button. Complications reminds me more of Bill Nelson’s Red Noise and is worth sticking with for the synth wig out in the last minute.

Last Man In Europe - A Certain Bridge (1981)

Last Man In Europe - T.V. Addict (1981)

Last Man In Europe - Complications (1981)

Novelty island

2011-03-30T20:52:00.006+01:00

OMG, as those pesky kids say, I must have liked this when I heard it way back in 1982 or I wouldn’t have bought it. Unfortunately, like all novelty records the joke where’s thin after a few listens. Having said that there are a few things going for it: the corny DJ at the start is spot on if you were unfortunate enough to hear those annoyingly mid-Atlantic Radio 1 presenters back in the 70s and 80s. I had the misfortune to hear Tony Blackburn on Radio 2 recently and he still talks like this!! Secondly, the chorus is kind of catchy and I’ve always been a sucker for “Wo-oh-oh-oh’s.” Really.

The Dots - Helen In Your Headphones (1982)

By the way, I’ve broken my scanner and had to find a picture of the record on Google, hence the poor resolution.

Stranger Than Fiction

2011-03-25T14:46:00.001Z

Another from my seemingly, and in fact almost literally, endless pile of early 80s New Wave/postpunk/synthpop/electronic records.

Stranger Than Fiction - Losing You (1980)

Steve Kennett: vocals + guitars
Stewart Kennett: percussion
Norman Pearce: bass
Sean Mckernan: Moog + ARP strings

Produced by Bill Nelson

Might add the b-side later.

Raucous

2011-03-24T18:24:00.003Z

I was just explaining to young Darkdance how the Vinyl Archive’s singles collection dried up around 1991 (in the comments on my last post) but there are one or two later ones. Last summer I bought seven relatively obscure mid 90’s singles from a charity shop. I’d never heard any of them but they were well looked after and apparently from the same collection so I thought they deserved a good home. I put them in a cupboard (the wife’s wardrobe actually) and forgot about them so they only got their first play last weekend.

By far the best of the bunch was This Is For Real by David Devant & His Spirit Wife – a brilliantly rowdy catchy pop-rock Britpop type of record.

David Devant & His Spirit Wife - This Is For Real (1997)

The other records, which may be featured sometime in the future, were by Jetpak, Ladies Who Lunch, Chopper, Blew, Idlewild, Cake and The Auteurs. OK the last three aren’t obscure but I’m not familiar with their recordings. The Auteurs record is a one sided single that I believe was given away with one of their LPs

Extended Sprout

2011-03-18T17:38:00.004Z

I don’t know about you but after a miserable Friday where I’ve got caught in the rain and somehow got my feet soaking wet so that my toes still itch like mad I like to relax too the extended version of the opening song on Prefab Sprout’s best album*.

Part of me thinks this should be a bonus track on the ‘Jordan: The Comeback’ CD but 'Doo-Wop in Harlem' finishes the album so perfectly it would be vandalism to put anything after it. Guess that’s why they invented 2-disc sets.

Prefab Sprout - Looking For Atlantis (Extended Version) (1990)
or if that doesn't work try:
Prefab Sprout - Looking For Atlantis (Extended Version) (1990)
Ripped from the 12-inch single

*A contentious statement I know but it’s my favourite and it’s my blog.

Two from 1981

2011-03-11T14:08:00.004Z

Been meaning to post these since I started the blog but I’ve never been sure what to say about them. I know very little about Hambi & The Dance (except they’re from Liverpool) and I can’t claim either of these are lost classics but they are nice examples of early 80s slightly arty, slightly synthy music, though not electronic enough for me at the time which is why I never bought any more after these.

Too Late To Fly The Flag is the more obvious single (reminds me of Teardrop Explodes) but if you give it a few listens L'image Craqué is the better song.

Hambi & The Dance – Too Late To Fly The Flag (1981)
Hambi & The Dance - L'image Craqué (1981)

Guitar & Vocals: Hambi Haralambous
Drums: Les Hughes
Bass: Gary Johnson (later of China Crisis)
Guitar: Steve Lovell
Back-up vocal: Jaqui

and you're very welcome..

2011-03-04T18:31:00.002Z

Last weeks disco record got a decidedly mixed reception so let’s see what you make of this offering – the 12-inch extended version of Chas Jankel’s ‘Glad To Know You’, co-written by Ian Dury. Is that a good enough pedigree for you?

As a bonus I’ve also included the b-side ‘Am I Honest With Myself Really?’and both sides of the ‘109’ single previously featured on this blog back in 2007 and described by one polite contributor as a genius song. These are all new vinyl rips but be warned 3,000,000 Synths is a bit crackly.

Chas Jankel - Glad To Know You (Extended Version) (1982)
Chas Jankel - Am I Honest With Myself Really? (1980)
Chas Jankel - 109 (1981)
Chas Jankel - 3,000,000 Synths (1981)

The weekend starts here

2011-02-25T16:24:00.003Z

Picked up a handful of classic disco era 12-inch singles from a charity shop a couple of weeks ago. This is exactly the sort of thing I hope to find in these shops because I bought very little of it at the time but really enjoy this stuff now. The pick of the bunch by a mile was Weekend by Phreek (or Patrick Adams Presents Phreek as the label has it). Information on Phreek is pretty scarce on the internet but this record is rightly regarded as a disco classic.

Of course, if you’re going to sit at your computer and listen to it it’s far too long at 8 minutes so I suggest you get up and boogie.

Phreek - Weekend (1978)

+ve -ve

2011-02-07T18:36:00.002Z

Here’s the other record I bought last Friday. It’s the 12-inch version of the third Positive Noise single Positive Negative. This is another one I missed at the time. I loved their debut single Ghosts/Give Me Passion but wasn’t sure about the follow up Charm/And Yet Again (which I must post here one day) and never really investigated further. That’s a shame because these songs are much more up my synthy post-punk alley.

Former vocalist Ross Middleton had left to form Leisure Process by now so the band line-up is:

Russell Blackstock – Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Graham Middleton – Keyboards
Frazer Middleton – Bass Guitar
Les Gaff – Drums

Positive Noise - Positive Negative (12-inch version) (1981)
Positive Noise - Energy (1981)

I’ve also got some live Positive Noise which I will feature soon.

New discovery

2011-02-05T22:33:00.002Z

I recently discovered there is a record shop I didn’t know about just under 7.3 miles from my house (according to AA Route Planner) that’s been there for years. I took a trip over there yesterday afternoon and didn’t give myself anywhere near enough time for a good rummage before having to dash off and pick the kids up from school. I did, however, pick up a couple of 12-inch singles which will be featured here over the next few days.

The first is a collaboration between Vince Clarke (of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure) and Paul Quinn (of Bourgie Bourgie and several other bands/collaborations. See here for more information).

Somehow I missed this record in 1985 so these songs are new to me but this is just the sort of thing I hope to discover when I go record shopping.

Vince Clarke Paul Quinn - One Day extension (1985)

Vince Clarke Paul Quinn - Song For extension (1985)

The other groovy 12-inch single to be featured soon.

After all that seasonal over indulgence you lot need a workout…

2011-01-07T19:25:00.001Z

Unfortunately this wasn’t a surprise

2011-01-05T18:07:00.005Z

Mick Karn lost his battle with cancer on 4th January 2011. He was only 52.

The best tribute I can pay him is he changed the way I thought about bass playing. Probably yours to if you’re about my age.

Here’s some old favourites featured on this blog way back in 2007.

Mick Karn - Sensitive (1982)

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T18:43:00.003Z

So the ole blog has just about made it through another year. If all goes to plan there will be regular posts with a common theme running for the whole of next year and I’ll be returning to my roots with loads of vinyl rips.

I’ll finish this year with a song from my favourite new album of 2010. All right, I’ll be honest, it’s the only new album I’ve bought all year but it was a good one.

Happy New Year to you all and be sure to check back next year.

Bill Nelson - Real Worlds and Dream Worlds (2010)

Another fine singer gone..

2010-12-27T19:38:00.002Z

I got a DMCA takedown notice for my Dec 14th post about the sad death of Woolly Wolstenholme. Apparently posting a 38-year old song to a select group of people, most of whom had never heard of him, is a big no no even though the response was very positive. Well today I read of the passing of Teena Marie. I don’t know a lot about Teena but some of her songs have found her way into my collection including her biggest UK hit ‘Behind The Groove’. I’m going to risk the wrath of DMCA and share the 12-inch version of that song. Most of you probably already have it. Those of you who haven’t need to hear this and investigate further. That’s how blogging is supposed to work. I know I like most of you have bought more music because of blogs. Maybe those guys will get it one day.

Teena Marie - Behind the Groove [12' Version] (1980)

Random Friday

2010-12-17T20:53:00.003Z

Welcome to my second random record day, where you choose the music. I’m going to post them in the order I received your numbers.

Kippers chose 86:
Eurythmics – Never Gonna Cry Again (1981)
I was quite a Tourists fan and had both of their LPs so this first Eurythmics single was eagerly awaited by me. I was quite disappointed at the time, considering it not to be electronic enough and I only bought it from the bargain bin some weeks later. Now I think it’s pretty good. Not up there with Love is A Stranger but I like Conny Plank’s production, the metronomic beat and the instrumental break in the middle. Annie Lennox is quite restrained, too restrained I thought at the time but considering her occasional tendency to go over the top I now consider it a well judged performance.

Simon chose 57:
Bananarama – Aie a Mwana (1981)
It’s easy to forget that Bananrama were quite a hip band in their early days. Originally recorded under this title by Black Blood, this is a great record actually recorded as a demo according to Wikipedia. It’s sung in Swahili which the girls had to learn phonetically. Oh, and of course Keren Woodward was hot.

Mondo chose 16:
Spandau Ballet – The Freeze (1981)
I’ve cheated a bit on this one. As fine as this single is I had to dig out my 12-inch version. In fact this is the ‘Special Mix’ featured on Side 2 of the 12-inch. It’s six and a half minutes long and the finest version of this song you’ll ever hear. However unhip this view might be Spandau Ballet were bloody great at their best.

DavyH chose 33:
Malcolm McLaren – Duck For The Oyster (1983)
I knew I had Buffalo Gals and Madam Butterfly but I totally forgot about this one. It all came flooding back when I put it on. An energetic and fun novelty record and I don’t mean that in a disparaging way.

DickVanDyke chose 7:
Tom Tom Club – Under The Boardwalk (1982)
I’m not generally a fan of cover versions this one gets it right. Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz & Co update the old Drifters classic and make it their own.

DarkDance chose 51:
Fashion – Silver Blades (1980)
And I’m glad he did. The final single by the original line-up of Fashion. If I was a bit disappointed with this at the time it’s only because I was comparing it to the outstanding Steady Eddie Steady, Citinite and Product Perfect LP. Taken on it’s own merits it’s a good example of Fashion’s trademark reggae influenced sound.

Woolly Wolstenholme (15 April 1947 - 13 December 2010)

2010-12-14T21:24:00.003Z

I was saddened to read this statement earlier today: "It is with profound sorrow that we have to announce the passing of Woolly Wolstenholme. In recent weeks Woolly's mental health had taken a turn for the worse and sadly he took his own life on Monday 13th December 2010. In this difficult time our thoughts are with Woolly's partner, Sue. We would ask all of Woolly's fans to remember his incredible contribution to popular music and his unique presence on stage."

You all know progressive rock is one of my guilty pleasures. Woolly Wolstenholme was keyboard player for Barclay James Harvest (second from left in the picture). He was my favourite type of keyboard player: one who provided orchestrations, colour and textures. He played Mellotron a lot which is a big plus in my book.

Degenerated blog

2010-12-14T18:42:00.002Z

As you may have noticed I had just about given up on this blog but I got a new turntable this weekend so I’ve been digging in the vinyl cupboard again. These are the first three tracks from Pink Military’s Do Animals Believe In God? LP which despite being a cult favourite has never received a CD release. I was going to rip all of side one but I got sidetracked. I’ll upload them at a later date if there’s a demand for it.

Pink Military – Degenerated Man (1980)
Pink Military – I Cry (1980)
Pink Military – Did You See Her (1980)

To celebrate my new turntable purchase and give it a good workout I’m going to repeat my random singles experiment so choose a number between 1 and 100 and I will play the corresponding record from one of my singles boxes (probably on Friday).

Friday

2010-09-17T17:45:00.004+01:00

Five posts in five days and all from the same box. I haven’t managed that in a long time. This record is the sort of obscure indie post punk stuff this blog was built on before I started neglecting it. The only reason I haven’t featured it before is I was going to link it to a ZigZag article about Wasted Youth that I found, but of course that would require time and effort so it was put on hold indefinitely. If you liked the gloomy stuff from my blogs classic period you should like this.

The band line-up is:
Ken Scott (vocals & guitar)
Rocco Barker (guitar)
Nick Nicole (synth)
Darren Murphy (bass)
Andy Scott (drums)

This single was released on Bridgehouse Records which, according to Wikipedia, was a label set up by the bass player's father in the pub he owned in Canning Town.

Side A: Wasted Youth - I’ll Remember You (1980)

Side B: Wasted Youth - My Friends Are Dead (1980)

Produced by Peter Perrett of The Only Ones fame.

Random Thursday

2010-09-16T14:03:00.004+01:00

A big thank you to the six people who chose numbers for todays post. I had a back-up plan in case nobody bothered (an internet random number generator) but I’m so glad I didn’t have to resort to that.

So – let’s see what songs you picked. I’ve posted them in the order the emails arrived.

Davy chose 44: The Tubes - Prime Time (1979)
Because of their onstage antics the tubes had a reputation for being outrageous in the tabloids, probably aided by stories from their publicists. This though is a great melodic pop song from their best album Remote Control. Previously featured three years ago. Click here to see the coloured vinyl.

Simon chose 69: The Undertones – Julie Ocean (1981)
I particularly liked this at the time because it was a bit of a departure for the undertones, being more laid back than we’d come to expect. I couldn’t possibly link to an mp3 though because Feargal doesn’t approve of that sort of thing. If I was going to I’d put it here just for a few days. If Feargal calls I’ll tell him Simon made me do it.

Mondo chose 27: X-Ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescence (1978)
Brilliant choice from Mondo. One of my favourite records of the era. Bizarrely this was sandwiched between Secret Affair and Dionne Warwick

Kippers chose 88: The Motors – Love and Loneliness (1980)
A big production from The Motors first featured on the blog three years ago but well worth another listen.

DVD chose 11: Led Zeppelin – Over The Hills And Far Away (1973)
Looks a bit out of place here, doesn’t it? This is a US import I bought cheap in the late 70s. It’s Led Zepp in fairly restrained mode starting acoustically and building nicely. I still like it.

Tarkers chose 99: The Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue (1982)
Thanks Tarkers for giving me an excuse to post this. It sounds like it was influenced by 60s girl groups and soul but the production is very early 80s. I used to keep it near my Mari Wilson records.

Wednesday - You must be crazy!

2010-09-15T16:32:00.003+01:00

It occurred to me listening to this that if The Specials dropped all the political posturing and concentrated on making music instead of trying to write ‘issue of the week’ songs (we’ve done teenage pregnancy, date rape, inner city decay – what can we do now?) they could have been a pretty good band.*

This is great! Play LOUD!
Rico and The Special AKA - Jungle Music (1982)

B-side’s pretty good too
Rico and The Special AKA - Rasta Call You (1982)

I’ve decided tomorrow is random Thursday. Give me a number between 1 and 102 and that’s the record(s) I’ll post tomorrow – even if it’s embarrassing.

*The views expressed above do not necessarily represent the views of the author. In fact it could be a ruse to wind up aging rude boys.

Tuesday...

2010-09-14T14:55:00.003+01:00

…and another record from my randomly selected singles box.

This EP was originally given away with the Rockpile Seconds Of Pleasure LP and it does what it says on the tin: Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds perform four Everly Brothers songs live and unplugged in a radio studio. If you haven’t heard these versions before you’re in for a real treat. The vinyl rip is a bit noisy so if you like it the CD reissue of Seconds Of Pleasure features shiny digital versions.

1 Take A Message To Mary
2 Crying In The Rain
3 Poor Jenny
4 When Will I Be Loved

Monday

2010-09-13T14:28:00.004+01:00

I pulled a random singles box out of the vinyl cupboard this weekend and the plan is to post a single every day this week. Shouldn’t be difficult.

I’m starting with this 60s girl group inspired jangly power pop gem. If that doesn’t arouse your curiosity nothing will.

Expressos - Tango In Mono (1981)

Doesn't sound like a charleston to me...

2010-08-23T12:38:00.005+01:00

I only found out a couple of weeks ago that the Lotus Eaters’ No Sense of Sin has finally been released on CD. It features the original album plus 8 bonus tracks of non-LP singles, B-sides etc.. One track conspicuous by its absence is the wonderful “Charleston Mix” of You Don’t Need Someone New, originally found on the b-side of the 12-inch single. Luckily, I just happen to have a copy.

The Lotus Eaters - You Don’t Need Someone New (Charleston Mix) (1983)

Soul Shoes

2010-08-13T19:46:00.003+01:00

I was looking after the boys today so I got the turntable, big speakers and a random box of singles out for a treat. Played this Graham Parker song for the first time in years. I bought it when I was 15 having read several rave Parker reviews in the music press but frankly didn’t think it was any better than OK at the time. Sounds bloody great to me now. It’s not rare or anything – it’s from Parker’s debut album – I just enjoyed hearing it again and wanted to share.

Graham Parker and The Rumour – Soul Shoes (1976)

It’s from the days before picture sleeves were common so I made my own with sticky back plastic and a copy of the NME

Sleeping Lions

2010-05-28T17:58:00.003+01:00

The band appears to be trying too hard to look different but it’s what’s on the grooves that counts, right? This is one of those difficult to define records – they seem to be trying to create their own genre. The vocals and music have an oriental feel and the production is distinctly 80s. I suppose maybe you could dance to it (I can’t). Just give it a listen – you’ll love or hate it.

Sleeping Lions - Wonderful You Are (1982)

Sleeping Lions also made one of the best club records of the early 80s which I’ve been trying to get hold of for years. It’s called Sound of My Heart and you can hear it here.

Nice try - goodbye

2010-05-27T21:35:00.003+01:00

I bought a handful of 12-inch singles from a charity shop a few weeks back, presumably all donated by the same person because they were all from the same era and of a similar style. There was actually about a dozen of them but they wanted £1.75 each (a lot for one of these establishments) and I had gone in there with the intention of spending up to £10 and I’m not an impulse buy sort of person. All right, I admit it, I’m tight. The thing is I went back a week later to get the remainder and of course they were gone and I was pissed off.

Anyway, this is the pick of the ones I bought. Paul Hardcastle was a bit of a keyboard wiz but couldn’t sing so he gave us that N-N-N-N-Nineteen nonsense. Getting Carol Kenyon in to sing a proper song was a much better idea - just ask Heaven 17.

Paul Hardcastle - Don’t Waste My Time (New Extended Version) (1985)
Featuring Carol Kenyon

Picture post

2010-05-23T21:39:00.003+01:00

I took this picture this morning in Pirbright. The sign next to it reads: “The Gruffalo was created in order to advertise the Village Open Day and Scarecrow Festival on Saturday 12 June.” Don’t know about you but I’m impressed.

Might upload a song to go with it later. What do you reckon – Pink Floyd’s Scarecrow?

Sunset

2010-05-21T18:07:00.004+01:00

Another lazy post I’m afraid.

I took this picture last Monday in the park at the other end of my road. That’s one of my boys on the horizon. I also had another son and a dog with me and they’re probably somewhere in the shadows.

Moody Blues – The Sun Set
A wonderful prog/pop/psych hybrid. I love the sound of the mellotron and the undisputed master is Mike Pinder of the Moodies.

Heaven 17 – Sunset Now
From their ‘Best of’ CD. When I get the chance I’ll replace it with a rip of the 12-inch single.

In totally unrelated news my car was covered in ash this morning and the kids were herded straight into their classrooms because of this.

My first Youtube upload

2010-05-09T16:40:00.003+01:00

I've made a little Sgt. Rock video using the pictures I posted a few weeks ago.

A treat for you…

2010-04-30T14:32:00.002+01:00

I picked up this EP with a live Style Council track at a charity shop last week. It was originally free with issue 1 of The Hit, a magazine I don’t recall at all.

It’s a good performance. No idea if it’s still exclusive.

Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down (Live) (1985)
Recorded at Manchester Apollo 14/6/85

1980 again

2010-04-29T20:39:00.004+01:00

"Oh, no! He’s posting prog again!"

From Mike Rutherford’s Smallcreep’s Day LP, side one of which was based on Peter Currell Brown's surreal novel of the same name. And yes, that’s Mike Rutherford of Mike & The Mechanics who are responsible for many crimes against music but this is excellent whatever your genre bias. I know you all hate prog but you’re just bigots.

Mike Rutherford - Working In Line (1980)

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: the singer on this is Noel McCalla who apparently auditioned for the 2009 series of X-Factor but didn’t get past the 'bootcamp' stage.

1980 Single of the Week

2010-04-27T12:00:00.013+01:00

In 1980 with the release of the Black Sea LP I thought XTC had peaked. Little did I realise this was just the beginning and they would go on to be one of the greatest British bands ever.

The scans above are from the free poster that came with the Sgt. Rock single.

Side One: XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (1980)
Side Two: XTC - Living Through Another Cuba/Generals and Majors (Live) (1980)
Both ripped from the original single.

1980 Friday Night Record

2010-04-23T20:23:00.002+01:00

Shalamar - Make That Move (1980)
Ripped from the original 12-inch single

1980 Single of the Week

2010-04-22T14:16:00.003+01:00

My I’ve been a lazy blogger. After a reasonable start to the year everything ground to a halt. This after I hatched my cunning plan for a regular 1980 Single of the Week post. To make up lost ground the rest of this month is going to be all 1980 all vinyl!

Starting with this…

Bill Nelson’s first post Be Bop Deluxe and Red Noise single and the first release on his own Cocteau label. Do You Dream In Colour was a preview of his forthcoming Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam album. I remember it seemed to take forever for that LP to finally see the light of day, eventually arriving some two years after the Red Noise’s Sound-on-Sound. Two years between albums doesn’t sound like much these days but it was an eternity back then. At least we got four tracks – Bill’s singles from the early 80s were usually quite generous with non-album bonus tracks.

If you only know one Bill Nelson song chances are it’s Do You Dream In Colour. It got mostly favourable reviews, at least one pointing out a similarity to an old T-Rex song (I forget which one), and was a small hit, peaking at No 52 in the UK chart. It’s not really what I expected at the time, I had anticipated a more electronic sound, but I was won over by its jaunty poppy sound which is a bit at odds with the lyric.

The first two songs on side 2 are by the touring version of Red Noise, possibly destined for the planned but never released 2nd album. Neither would sound too out of place on Sound-on-Sound. If you’re familiar with that LP it’s easy to imagine Ideal Homes in the middle of side 2 and Instantly Yours has a similar vibe to Stop Go Stop.

Finally Atom Man Loves Radium Girl features Bill Nelson on all instruments and is probably nearer to the sound I was expecting.

The three side 2 songs are not currently available on CD even though they would have made ideal bonus tracks on the Quit Dreaming reissue.

Bill Nelson - Do You Dream In Colour (1980)
Bill Nelson - Ideal Homes (1980)
Bill Nelson - Instantly Yours (1980)
Bill Nelson - Atom Man Loves Radium Girl (1980)

Happy Birthday

2010-03-17T13:17:00.000Z

I’ll have to be brief because I’m not supposed to be blogging at the moment. I’ve packed the kids off to school (easier said than done) and taken the day off work so I can spend some quality time with Mrs Mick on her birthday, which she just happens to share with Clare Grogan…

Bonus Friday post

2010-03-12T20:34:00.002Z

This is the 3rd and final 70s Talk Box record in my mini series. I bought this back when I was 16. It’s not cheesy or saucy like the others but it turned up on a 70s CD set I got (from my favourite charity shop again) and when it unexpectedly blasted out of my cars speakers I was struck by how great it sounded, but also how the production and singing style (which won’t be to every ones taste) and particularly the synth and (Talk Box) guitar solos rooted it firmly in its time. Not that that’s a bad thing.

John Miles - Slow Down (1977)

Interesting pop fact: John Miles was a member of a band called The Influence which also included the great Paul Thompson of Roxy Music fame.

Another cheesy Friday treat

2010-03-12T14:21:00.003Z

Remember that song I posted last week that was cheesy, saucy, raunchy, sexy etc? Well I didn’t intend it to turn into a series but I’ve got an even better record from the same year which is all that and has the Talkbox guitar. Hard to believe this record was almost a guilty secret tucked away in my odds & sods box. It sounds like an absolute classic now.

Fox - S-S-S-Single Bed (1976)

There’s a brilliant TOTP performance here. I just watched it with my 6-year old who’s off school today and he says it’s rubbish

I’ve got one more Talkbox classic from 1976 that I want to share. It’s by a male artist, it’s not as sexy and cheesy as Dr Kiss Kiss and S-S-S-Single Bed but it’s funky and urgent. Any ideas?

1980 Single of the Week

2010-03-10T14:15:00.003Z

What with 1980 being 30 years ago now (can you believe that?) this is a cunning plan I’ve come up with to ensure I do at least one post every week. I considered doing this a few years back with 1978 singles and in a way I regret not doing it. It would have been an interesting mix of new and old wave music. By 1980 I was firmly in the new wave camp but I wasn’t about to give up on all my old favourites so this series may throw up a few singles which will shock and appal you.

I’m going to start, however, with the sort of single you would expect to find here; a double-A from Fad Gadget AKA Frank Tovey. Fireside Favourite got far more plays due to its brassy synth and funny lyric. Actually the way it mixes sexual imagery with a description of a nuclear explosion was probably meant to be disturbing but it appealed to my sense of humour at the time. We always sang along with the ‘now we’re just a scab on a piece of wire’ line near the end back in my house sharing days.

Insecticide is life from a fly’s perspective. Probably the reason I favoured the other side.

Fad Gadget - Fireside Favourite (1980)
Fad Gadget - Insecticide (1980)

I’m not joking – I love this song…

2010-03-05T19:58:00.003Z

I got this on a disco CD from that favourite charity shop I’m always going on about. I’m not sure I would describe it as disco but it could only have come from the mid 70s with the ‘talk box’ guitar that was all the rage at the time. Words that come to mind are kitsch, arch, corny, saucy, foxy, brash, cheeky, sassy. Those are all good things by the way but for me the song is made by singer Linda Kelly who gives it a far better performance than it deserves and does those great screams, especially the one at 1.50.

5000 Volts - Dr Kiss Kiss (1976)

To Heaven A Jet

2010-03-02T16:51:00.001Z

This is another of those ‘can’t believe I haven’t already posted this’ posts. I was saving it for a planned series of posts on Bill Nelson’s Cocteau records but realistically any series of posts just isn’t going to happen.

I know nothing about To Heaven A Jet. They didn’t even get to play on both sides of this single. The b-side was credited to Revox Cadets which was actually a Bill Nelson pseudonym and can be heard on one of my previous posts. Airfields has the characteristic cold and synthy sound of its era and went the way of most Bill Nelson productions, ie sank without trace, but we love this sort of record round these parts.

To Heaven A Jet - Airfields (1981)

Boogie Woogie

2010-02-19T19:57:00.003Z

Remember the late 70s when everyone from Mike Oldfield to The Beach boys tried their hands at disco? I’m sure this will divide opinion but one of my favourites is Wings’ Goodnight Tonight. Macca tackles the genre with his usual gusto (and a Spanish guitar solo).

This is the 12-inch version which I believe has never been released on CD.

Wings – Goodnight Tonight (1979)

You're my clone...now with added b-side

2010-02-15T18:18:00.004Z

I always think of this as a companion to the record I posted on Friday. I know I bought them both unheard around the same time and in both cases was hoping for something Numanesque. This one was much more what I had in mind with its cold synths and detached vocal.

Greg Vandike – Clone (1979)

Greg Vandike was from Plymouth and from what I gather after a little Googling was quite well known in the area as a DJ, concert promoter and record dealer. Sadly, he died in 2007.

My Googling also revealed that his mother was June Marlow of The Stargazers who were the first British act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart. She also sang the Fry’s Turkish Delight jingle so I think this is her (but I don’t guarantee it).

Following a request from MD I have now uploaded the B-side All of the Girls. If you enjoyed Clone I recommend this – it’s at least as good as the A-side, possibly better.

Greg Vandike - All of the Girls (1979)

Sunday Soul – Betty Everett

2010-02-14T08:32:00.003Z

Got this CD for £1 from my favourite charity shop on Wednesday. It’s a twofer containing her Love Rhymes (1974) and Happy Endings (1975) albums. Betty Everett is of course best known for The Shoop Shoop Song and a quick search of YouTube will display some northern soul stompers that show she could really belt them out. These two albums are much more laid back, especially Happy Endings with its lush Gene Page orchestrations.

The soulful Sweet Dan is the opener no Love Rhymes and I’m Your Friend is the funkiest this CD gets.

As a beach boys fan I had to check out her version of God Only Knows and I wasn’t disappointed. I have a theory it’s impossible to make a bad version of this song unless your name is David Bowie. Perhaps even better is the sumptuous Here’s The Gift.

From Love Rhymes:
Sweet Dan
I’m Your Friend

From Happy Endings:
Here’s The Gift
God Only Knows

P.S. Also got Wizard of Oz DVD for £1.50 and Odyssey Greatest Hits for £1

You can't be serious

2010-02-12T18:58:00.004Z

I’ve been meaning to post this record by Robert Broberg from Sweden since I started the blog but I could never decide just what to say about it. Is it a novelty record or does he think he’s written an earnest song about dehumanisation or something? If so the very un-machinelike bleeps about a minute in and again near the end were a mistake unless the intention was to raise a smile.

Robert Broberg – I Wanna Be A Machine (1979)

As you can see it was pressed on futuristic clear vinyl.

On second thoughts it’s definitely tongue in cheek. Or is it? Can Mr Kippers, the blogospheres resident Swedish music expert shed any light on this?

Clearing my head with The Quads...

2010-02-07T09:52:00.002Z

I had beer for the first time in two weeks last night and as a consequence woke up feeling a bit groggy this morning. Ironically blasting this out of the speakers seemed to help with the healing process.

Don’t know much about The Quads except this was the first of five singles released between 1979 and 1982 and the only one to trouble the UK chart, peaking at #66. An energetic live performance, I recommend this if you like late 70's new wave/mod tunes.

In 2001 John Peel listed it as one of his all-time favourite records.

The Quads – There Must Be Thousands (1979)

Play LOUD!

Out of print

2010-02-04T18:29:00.003Z

I came across this when I was tidying my CDs the other day and thought I’d see if it had been reissued yet. It hasn’t and a 2nd hand copy from Amazon will set you back £54. Not bad for an impulse buy from a little shop in Redcar some 22 years ago. I bought this mainly because I liked the Beatle-esque single Keeping The Dream Alive - Beatle-esque nearly always does it for me. I haven’t played it for ages but I remember the rest of the CD having a sort of Beatles/Aha vibe which was fine with me at the time.

As I understand it the extended version of Keeping The Dream Alive is particularly sought after because it was only included in certain territories.

Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive (ExtendedVersion)*

Freiheit - Diana

*Performed with The London Symphony Orchestra and The Jackson Singers.

Bass

2010-02-03T14:58:00.003Z

If you want to talk great bass players the name Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) has to me mentioned at some point. There are many great examples of his playing (especially on live recordings where he makes up for other JA members deficiencies) but this is a personal favourite. Very melodic with a lovely fat sound that perfectly compliments the mostly acoustic accompaniment.

Hot Tuna - Watch The North Wind Rise (1976)

And for anyone interested I’ve often claimed this as my favourite song of all time. It’s definitely in the top 5.

The Evils of Society

2010-02-01T17:51:00.003Z

This was supposed to be a ‘Sunday Soul’ post but I had trouble uploading to Mediafire so here it is a day late with a change of title. For a limited time only have a listen to two wonderful thematically linked Motown songs. Both are new to me and from The Complete Motown Singles Vol.10: 1970 which Mrs M bought me for Christmas.

Martha Reeves – I Should Be Proud
A brilliant heartfelt performance from Martha Reeves.

The Supremes – Bill, When Are You Coming Back
B-side of up the ladder to the roof with a great Jean Terrell performance.

Both these songs are co-written by Pam Sawyer and I don’t know this for sure but I’m guessing she wrote the words, because both have an almost conversational style: “I was under the drier when the telegram came” and even better “we moved by the Coke machine, oh, so we could say goodbye” which makes them somehow more 'real'.

As promised...

2010-01-24T09:06:00.002Z

I promised a cracking Chris Spedding song in the last post and I wasn’t kidding.

Those awfully nice people at Amazon gave me some credit for free downloads for spending lots of money with them at Christmas so, after my 9-year old made me download some Black Eyed Peas, I got this little gem. Although it’s from 1978 I first heard it when brother Ray included a scratchy vinyl rip on a 70s CD he made for me a few years back. I’ve considered posting that version several times but getting this shiny digital version clinched it.

Chris Spedding - Silver Bullet (1978)

The storm is breaking

2010-01-22T19:09:00.002Z

Because I enjoyed Planet Mondos recent Roxy Music post and I haven’t got any ideas of my own at the moment and I love a song that starts with a great clap of thunder and I’ve been meaning to post this for some time here’s the 12-inch version of Slave To Love.

Bryan Ferry - Slave To Love (12-inch Version) (1985)

P.S. I’ve got a great Chris Spedding song I might post later today or maybe at the weekend or maybe never.

Mick Green (22 February 1944 - 11 January 2010)

2010-01-12T23:07:00.001Z

A national treasure died on Monday 11th January 2010 and I only found out because of my morbid habit of occasionally checking recent deaths on Wikipedia. I’m talking about Mick Green who has influenced countless guitar players for over 40 years. I wrote about The Pirates here about 18-months ago. The only thing I can add to that post is when they played at our college they were ‘old’, this being at the height of punk, but now 65 seems way too young to die.

The Pirates – Going Back Home

Horrorshow

2010-01-11T20:52:00.002Z

Today’s post is inspired by Adam from the brilliant Fades In Slowly blog. He’s just posted two Punishment of Luxury Peel sessions which I highly recommend. I’ve had some tracks from their Laughing Academy LP on file for some time but haven’t posted them because they didn’t sound right to me. In fact it was ripping this LP that convinced me I needed to dump the USB turntable and buy a decent Hi-Fi one like I used to have. When this happens you can expect new and improved rips of some old favourites. Until then enjoy an OK-ish rip of British Baboon. The song has nothing to do with A Clockwork Orange but from the moment I first heard it the image it conjured was Malcolm McDowell in his Droog outfit.

Punishment of Luxury – British Baboon (1979)

I wish I could take the credit for this

2010-01-10T17:18:00.003Z

Couldn’t resist posting this picture of a Roman snowman someone built just round the corner from my house. The sun wasn’t in the ideal place when I took it but hopefully you can make it out. It's worth taking a closer look at this picture because it's quite detailed.

Cosy

2010-01-08T19:30:00.003Z

Enough talk of snow and freezing temperatures. It’s the weekend. Why not open a bottle of wine, put on some romantic music and cosy up in front of an open fire? That’s what Mrs Mick and I will be doing. Except we haven’t got an open fire and we’ll have to keep chasing the ‘Micklets’ (TM Davy H) upstairs but you get the idea.

The Temprees - Dedicated To The One I Love

Main Ingredient - Just Don't Want To Be Lonely

Brr..

2010-01-06T17:26:00.001Z

Here are two pictures I took from my doorstep at about 6a.m. this morning. One was taken with flash and one without although they’ve both been enhanced slightly. It hasn’t stopped snowing since and Mrs Mick says it’s the most snow she’s seen since she moved south of the border.

Two things that have happened today:
1. I attempted to drive to work this morning but had to give up when my car got stuck after about 200 yards.
2. Mrs Mick has just sent me out in a blizzard because she was out of wine.

It’s all right for all you tough northerners but us soft southern jessies aren’t used to this at all.

Freeez - Southern Freeze

Noughty but nice (Part 3) The XTC edition

2009-12-26T16:40:00.004Z

If I had one wish for the next decade it would be for XTC to release a new LP. Well actually it would be for world peace, an end to hunger and…oh, everything! But in musical terms it would be the return of the best band of the last 30 years. I would make do with an Andy Partridge solo if it was filled with great pop songs as opposed to that improvised Monstrance nonsense but a full blown XTC reunion, preferably including Dave Gregory, is what I’d love to see and despite what I’ve read in Andy Partridge interviews I still see it as a realistic if remote possibility.

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you their last studio LP was Wasp Star from 2000. A fine album that suggested to me they were still at the top of their game with plenty more to come. I particularly liked the final track which sounds like XTC, The Beatles and The Beach Boys in one song. I refuse to believe this is the end.

XTC - The Wheel and The Maypole (2000)

This is my second selection from this album in the last week so don’t expect the links to the mp3s to be live very long. Do yourself a favour – buy XTC.

Noughty but nice (Part 2) – The Todd edition

2009-12-24T20:10:00.002Z

Regular readers will know I’m a big Todd Rundgren fan. In the New Year I intend to write some posts to explain this to non-believers. His 70s output was phenomenal, the 80s patchy but ended on a high with Nearly Human, the 90s were a total write-off with rapping and bossa nova versions of old hits but what of his Noughties output?
Well, there’s been a fair amount of activity. In 2004 he released Liars to rave reviews, some even proclaiming it his best since the 70s. I wouldn’t go that far but there was some good stuff on it including the single Soul Brother which has quite an amusing dig at todays so called R&B singers.

Todd Rundgren - Soul Brother (2004)

For some god knows what reason he decided in 2008 to follow this eclectic collection with an album of arena rock. Hands up who likes arena rock? Exactly! Fortunately this was Todd’s version of arena rock and a few good songs could be found buried in this fairly mediocre collection. Here’s one of them.

Todd Rundgren - Courage (2008)

Best of all, and I think I might be in the minority here, was his brief stint as singer in The New Cars – that’s The Cars minus Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr (the singers for the uninitiated) and Dave Robinson (drummer). Bass and drums were played by Todd’s friends Kasim Sultan and Prairie Prince. A pragmatic Todd referred to this project as "an opportunity ... for me to pay my bills, play to a larger audience, work with musicians I know and like, and ideally have some fun for a year." This curious Cars/Utopia hybrid toured and released one live album with three new studio songs. I have no idea what the rest of the album sounds like but one of the new songs, Not Tonight, is the best thing I’ve heard from Todd in years. It shows how Todd as Cars singer is not such a ridiculous idea as it manages to sound like classic Cars and it’s the type of melodic pop/rock I like to hear from him. However, maybe that’s just me because I’ve seen lots of negative feedback on the interweb.

The New Cars - Not Tonight (2006)

Noughty but nice (Part 1)

2009-12-22T21:46:00.002Z

As you know this blog is mainly concerned with older music but since we are nearing the end of the Noughties I thought it would be nice to give a mention to some 21st century music. Not a Top 100 list or anything like that, I’m not that organised, just a few songs that I’ve enjoyed in the last decade.

First an artist who’s all over the blogosphere and I first heard over at Davy’s place. Our boys hate this (“It’s just boring”) but for Mrs Mick and me this has become a sort of ‘our tune’. When I played it last weekend the missus asked me if I wanted to dance (the beer/wine was already flowing) and the boys were disgusted: “Oh my God they’re having sex!!” Which we weren’t, of course, spontaneous nookie being out of the question with those pests around. Er, I’ve gone off topic. I hope I haven’t ruined the song for you.

Richard Hawley - Lady’s Bridge (2007)

P.S. In the new year I plan to buy a new improved turntable and start ripping my old records again and will even post some new improved versions of some old favourites.

My word is final!

2009-12-20T19:05:00.003Z

When Mrs Mick foolishly asked the boys to write a Christmas list a few weeks back all three of them included puppy on their long lists. I had to explain to them that I don’t particularly like dogs (always been a cat person) and they took a lot of looking after and we would only get one over my dead body. So……

Say hello to Sparky.

He’s been with us four weeks now and I’m slowly coming round to his charms.

Good points: Very affectionate, learned toilet training very quickly, bit of a babe magnet when I take him out.

Bad points: Never stops eating, chewed my shoes, I have to pick up his shit in those little black bags that are impossible to open.

Since I don’t have any good dog songs I’ve gone for a song that describes his personality.

XTC – Stupidly Happy

Tagged

2009-11-16T18:15:00.002Z

I’ve been tagged by Davy, who was tagged by Drew who was tagged by Chocolategirl64 who was tagged by…well check it out yourselves.

The rules are:
1 You have to post a song that makes you happy
2 You can tag as many people as you want
3 Say one thing about the blog that you tag that will make them smile.

Fortunately I’m not as grumpy as Mr H and don’t mind this sort of thing. At least his cunning ruse has worked and forced me to blog twice in the same month. I tag Kippers because I’m sure he won’t mind and he’ll probably also include a Mildly Interesting Pop Fact.

I trusted my instinct and didn’t think too much about my choice. If this doesn’t get your feet tapping and make you happy you’re probably dead.

Rockpile - Heart

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: This is sung by Billy Bremner but not the Billy Bremner who played for L***s United and had fisticuffs with Kevin Keegan in the 1974 Charity Shield.

I would also have tagged Planet Mondo but I’ve been beaten to it.

49

2009-11-15T15:32:00.003Z

Shit, that’s one less than 50!!!

Happy Birthday to me.

Tantrum...

2009-10-16T19:33:00.005+01:00

We had a major tantrum from my 9-year old yesterday because he was banned from his favourite web site, Club Penguin, for 24 hours for breaking the rules. He was doing particularly well at Card-Jitsu in the Dojo (don’t ask) and meant to write “I can’t be beaten” but actually typed “I cunt be beaten”. The poor kid was instantly booted off with a great sense of injustice.

He’s now counting the minutes til he’s allowed back on….

Pet Shop Boys & Dusty – What Have I Done To Deserve This

Paul Jones – I’ve Been A Bad, Bad Boy

Charity shop rummage...

2009-10-07T14:30:00.001+01:00

I’ve been doing a fair bit of rummaging in charity shops since early summer and I’ve picked up a few interesting records and CDs which I will share over the coming months. How’s this for starters, especially since I promised more quality after yesterdays post: the 12-inch version of E=MC2 for 99p.

mp3: Big Audio Dynamite – E=MC2 (Extended Remix) (1985)

I loved this song on it’s initial release and was very pleased with myself because I understood most of the Nic Roeg references. At the time I would tell anyone who was interested (which was almost nobody) that he was my favourite director, although I had yet to see Performance so didn’t recognise any of the samples taken from that film. In fact, for years I thought it was James Fox’s voice was Michael Caine.

WTF?

2009-10-06T20:51:00.003+01:00

Come on admit it, you’ve all got some records that you look at and wonder “what the hell was I thinking?” Well I’ve decided it’s about time I shared some of mine with you. I bought this some 28 years ago and, the eighties being the eighties, I’m not sure if Yuka is a boy or a girl. Some elementary Googling tells me that Yuka is a female Japanese name but on the picture sleeve (which is inconclusive) he/she doesn’t look particularly look Japanese

It sounds to me a bit like Mika. Let that be a warning to you!!

Yuka – Who Would Believe A Young Man (1981)

A bit more quality tomorrow I promise but be warned - there are more of these in the vinyl archive.

Let's swing...

2009-10-02T14:22:00.003+01:00

Three days, three posts! And they said it couldn’t be done – not by me anyway.

This swinging dance gem was produced by August Darnell which won’t surprise you if you remember the video - all zoot suits and Cotton Club. The brass and drums are great and the lovely yearning vocal by Stephanie Fuller is the icing on the cake.

Elbow Bones & The Racketeers – A Night In New York (Extended Version)* (1983)

*Mixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez

We're climbing Jacobs ladder..

2009-10-01T13:08:00.002+01:00

What better way to follow yesterdays post than this piece of pure pop magic from The Monochrome Set? All upbeat with sing-a-long verses and a faux gospel part – brilliant! Their best single and a nice picture sleeve too.

This more polished version is not the same mix as found on Compedium 75-95, The Good Life, Fin and Westminster Affair and as far as I know it’s not on any currently available CD.

The Monochrome Set – Jacobs Ladder (1984)

Back to basics

2009-09-30T18:53:00.002+01:00

I’m going try a few days of vinyl rips to get this blog back on track. This is from the Farmer’s Boys 2nd album With These Hands which still isn’t available on CD unless you want to pay over £70 for a Japanese import. Their 1st album Get Out & Walk has finally been reissued (with bonus tracks) and is available at the usual outlets. I have to admit I’m only familiar with a couple of tracks but I’ll be investing in a copy soon.

On previous posts I’ve described their sound as a cross between the Monochrome Set and The Smiths. The Amazon reviewer also throws Orange Juice and the Human League into the mix and I can see what he means.

The Farmer’s Boys – All of a Sudden (1985)

The Class of '79

2009-07-09T11:08:00.004+01:00

I’ve had a bit of blogger’s block recently so here’s the first in an occasional series where I rip off good ideas from other blogs.

Going way back to 1978 my favourite band was Be Bop Deluxe, so you’d think I would have been devastated when they split that year having just released (probably) their best album. In fact I saw it coming. Drastic Plastic had been a bit of a departure with it’s simpler song structures and increased use of synthesisers and sound textures and it split the Be Bop audience to a degree so it wasn’t a big surprise that Bill Nelson wanted to move on. I wasn’t particularly worried – after all Bill was Be Bop Deluxe wasn’t he? Not entirely true as listening to old live performances and some of Bill’s solo work shows but that’s what I thought at the time. Even so, as the release of the debut single by Bill Nelson’s Red Noise approached I did get a bit apprehensive. There were rumours of Bill ‘going punk’ which worried me (at the time there were always rumours of people going punk or disco).

I needn’t have worried. Right from the opening drum beat and bleeping synth I was hooked. It took the sound of Drastic Plastic a stage further. The synth was upfront, the guitar was rawer, the singing more aggressive and Bill’s primitive drum style really suited the song. It was probably better than any Be Bop Deluxe single. Lyrically it celebrates isolation and in my mind is in the same category as Bowie’s 'Sound and Vision' and Gary Numan’s 'Cars'.

The tracks on the b-side confused me somewhat. The synths were there but the songs didn’t have the textures of Drastic Plastic or the urgency of Furniture Music. They have a home made quality which in hindsight is reminiscent of some of Bill’s solo work. Over the years I’ve grown to love Wonder Toys that last forever and, er, appreciate Acquitted By Mirrors, a favourite with Nelsonians (yes, they really call themselves that).

As for going punk, with the Sound on Sound album Bill did embrace the new wave to a larger degree than most of his contemporaries but, with the way people like to pigeon hole bands, seemed to end up not finding a big audience with his old fans or the hip new wave crowd. A long, meandering and extremely inconsistent solo career beckoned…

mp3: Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Furniture Music (1979)
mp3: Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Wonder Toys That Last For Ever (1979)
mp2: Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Acquitted By Mirrors (1979)

The same person who thought Heaven 17 sang ‘Bullshit! Bullshit’ on We Live So Fast also thought Bill sang ‘My testicles are green’ at about 1.27

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T20:18:00.002+01:00

So we’ve all heard the news by now and there’s nothing I can add to the millions of words already spoken and written except to reiterate remember the great music (pretty much everything from Jackson 5 to Bad and occasionally after) and don’t dwell on the media circus that was his later life.

On occasions like this everyone has a ‘how I heard the news’ story so, if you’ll forgive the indulgence, here’s the almost comical way I heard the news: Driving to work this morning for some reason I switched the CD player off to listen to the radio. It was tuned to Radio 2 and about 30 seconds of that Kennedy woman’s wittering was more than enough for me so I changed stations and spent the rest of my journey listening to Ben, arriving at work before it was finished. As I walked into the office the radio (which was tuned to an oldies station) was playing Got To Be There. If I gave it any thought at all I thought it was a coincidence. As the song finished the DJ said something like “The talent that was Michael Jackson” which I took to be his way of saying he didn’t rate the later stuff. It was only after another Jacko song he said something about him having died and of course my jaw hit the floor…

Here’s a favourite from The Jacksons:
The Jacksons - Show You The Way To Go

and a Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson song you don’t hear so often:
Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - The Man

Slightly bizarre picture from the 1988 World Tour program.

Check out Lee’s post for his brilliant version of Ain’t No Sunshine. This is my favourite version of the song and the one I was originally going to use.

Take this with a pinch of salt but…

2009-06-18T20:56:00.003+01:00

Mrs Mick listens to local radio station Eagle in the mornings and yesterday she told me the breakfast DJ announced that Woking council were planning some sort of memorial/tribute to The Jam and he had been informed by a band member that all three members would attend. I’ve done a bit of digging since then and I’ve found this thread on a message board that appears to be have it’s roots in this announcement and takes it a stage further. I’ll believe it when I see it but fingers crossed…

Woking is only 10 miles up the road so if anything happens I’ll be there with my camera.

If nothing else it’s a good excuse to dig out an All Mod Cons classic.

The Jam - It's Too Bad

The June Post...

2009-06-05T19:06:00.003+01:00

Well that attempt at rebooting the blog was bloody great, wasn’t it? I think I’ll be a little less ambitious and just try to manage more than one post a month.

Here’s a little treat for all you faithful readers who still check in every day to see if there’s anything new…

mp3: Leisure Process - Love Cascade (Dance Mix) (1982)

Gary Barnacle all keyboards, tenor saxophone, electric saxophone
Ross Middeton vocals, guitar

In case you couldn’t tell it’s a Martin Rushent production.

We live so fast...

2009-05-01T16:15:00.003+01:00

To celebrate finally getting my replacement stylus here is the song I was about to rip when I found my little darlings had broken the old one. It’s the six minute dance mix of We Live So Fast which in its original form was on the Luxury Gap album. This is ripped from the b-side of the Temptation 12 inch single.

If you’re familiar with this you’ll know the chorus starts “We live so fast…motion, motion..”. Back in the 80’s a friend of mine thought they were singing “bullshit bullshit” and I made the mistake of telling that to one of my kids. He of course told the others and now every time they hear this they sing “bullshit” and I get dirty looks from the boss if she’s around. (Of course, I sing along if she’s not there)

mp3: Heaven 17 - We Live So Fast (Dance Mix) (1982)

Quick Sunday post...

2009-04-26T12:47:00.003+01:00

Just time to wish a happy 68th birthday to everyone’s favourite Italian record producer.

Giorgio Moroder - First Hand Experience In Second Hand Love (1977) from this.

3 tracks from the BRILLS

2009-04-23T22:57:00.003+01:00

I know things have been quiet round here a while but don’t go thinking I’ve run out of old records. Not before time Raiding The Vinyl Archive is getting a reboot. I’ve ordered a new stylus and I’m determined to post at least two pieces of old vinyl a week as well as occasionally indulging in other stuff like the drunken Friday post.

To get things rolling here’s a low key effort from 1979. I know next to nothing about The Brills except they appear to be from Scotland and I only know that because they are on this CD (which also apparently features the 5th best garage band from Aberdeen). These recordings have a nice spare sound with few embellishments so they stand or fall on the songs and performances, which I think you’ll agree are pretty good.

The Brills - Gang Of One
The Brills - What Is Done
The Brills - Burst Of Old Flames

Around this time many years ago…

2009-04-04T15:48:00.003+01:00

…I was getting married as this ancient sepia tinted photograph shows. This day nine years ago we were supposed to be going out to celebrate our 2nd anniversary but Mrs Mick went into labour with our first born instead. But for complications he would have been born on our anniversary but he held on til the 5th. This year we're taking things easy.

Here’s some songs for the missus.

Henry Priestman - Greys The New Blonde
Nick Lowe - Hope For Us All

Disc-007

2009-04-03T20:36:00.003+01:00

I do a lot of driving and it’s the only place I can listen to music without interruptions these days. Donna Summer has been getting heavy rotation on the car stereo for the past few weeks and I’ve been particularly enjoying Dim All The Lights. The other day I was groovin’ to it with my boys and one of them pointed out the music around 50-seconds in was similar to the excellent discofied James Bond theme featured in The Spy Who Loved Me, still one of my favourite Bond films if that doesn’t make me sound too Alan Partridge. You can here this tune on the Menu screen and when Roger Moore is being chased on skis by that bloke from UFO. Have a listen and see if you agree.

mp3: Donna Summer - Dim All The Lights (12-inch version)
mp3: Marvin Hamlisch - Bond 77

On a totally unrelated note do you know what you were doing at exactly this time eleven years ago? I was sitting in a pub in Dundee with family and friends celebrating my last night as a single man.

Sibling rivalry (Part 1)

2009-03-13T22:10:00.002Z

I’ve seen it mentioned from time to time on the blogosphere how one automatically hated ones sibling’s records. Well, my house was no different (and to this day if my younger sister tells me a song is good I will assume it’s shit) but occasionally a record would transcend the rivalry. This was one of those. When I bought it family and friends alike found the call and response parts a bit hokey and thought I’d lost it, but it slowly became a favourite in our house. The sad thing is I mentioned it to BrotheRay who occasionally leaves comments on my posts a while ago and he couldn’t remember it. Come on Raymond click on the link below and let the memories come flooding back. The rest of you just enjoy a classic piece of Jonathan Richman camp.

mp3: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - The Morning Of Our Lives (1978)

Classic covers (part 1)

2009-03-13T20:09:00.002Z

I think I’ve spotted a gap in the market. I’ve seen loads of blogs about classic album sleeves but no mention of single picture covers. This pic for the ‘Tears Are Not Enough’ single would have made a great cover for the Lexicon of Love album.

mp3: Tears Are Not Enough – Tears Are Not Enough (Single Version) (1981)

Bubblegum

2009-02-23T18:20:00.003Z

Nice bubblegum post over at TVD on Friday. There were a few bubblegum records in our house back in the late 60s including this all but forgotten gem from 1969.

It was on the Major Minor label – whatever happened to that? Other artists we had on the label were Tommy James and the Shondells, Karen Young, Johnny Nash and Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. Whenever I hear old songs that we had I always picture the record label and sleeve. Do you even know what label your CDs are on?

mp3: Crazy Elephant - Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (1969)

My boys like this one even though it always ‘tricks’ them. When they hear the opening bars they think it’s ‘Cherry Bomb’.

Not exactly a Friday night party record…

2009-02-20T20:42:00.002Z

...but it’s been a while since I indulged in my progressive rock fixation. Allmusic says of this song “Refugees turns out to be a wonderfully moving song that eschews hidden meaning in favour of direct statement - this is a song about people fleeing to the West, taking next to nothing with them. An elegy to freedom, the song not only takes in the idea of escaping to freedom, but takes in the planning as well, though in poetic terms suitable for the average Peter Hammill lyric” which is mostly true but even a cursory listen to the lyric tells you there’s a much more personal story in there.

All you prog haters out there (and in my experience most prog haters haven’t heard any but have accepted received wisdom that it was all pretentious crap) give this a listen and see if you can honestly tell me it isn’t great.

mp3: Van Der Graaf Generator - Refugees (1970) (Buy)

This mp3 will only be available for a limited time.

It’s cold outside Part 2…

2009-02-02T22:04:00.004Z

Message on the school website:
School (and Pre-school) closed due to snow on Tuesday 3rd February. Please continue to visit our website and listen to the local radio for updates.

That’s my quiet day off work buggered! Course it was worse in my day (see mid 60s picture above) and we didn’t have central heating. Frost on the inside of your bedroom window etc…Just read this post, you'll get the idea.

The Stiv Bators song comes courtesy of Darkdance, who thought it might be too punky for me. I actually think it’s a great piece of power pop.

mp3: Stiv Bators - It’s Cold Outside (1979)

It's cold outside...

2009-02-02T08:11:00.003Z

The school's closed today so you can imagine how upset the boys are.

Update: We were a bit low on milk and bread so I’ve just walked up to the local Co-op for supplies. The snow’s about eight inches deep in places so it’s really quiet out there apart from that nice sound your boots make in the snow. I Don’t have to go into work til Wednesday.

mp3: Pezband - Baby It's Cold Outside (1977)

And finally...

2009-01-30T23:43:00.003Z

Today is also Mary Balin’s birthday. It’s No Secret that Marty is one of my all time favourite singers so I won’t even attempt to write a tribute while I’m half drunk on a Friday night. It’s just that “The summer had inhaled and held it’s breath too long..” is one of my favourite opening lines…

mp3: Jefferson Airplane - Comin’ Back To Me (1967)

I’ve got some reasonably rare stuff to post but that will have to wait for another day.

Bargain...

2009-01-30T21:48:00.003Z

I went shopping today and picked up a bargain (see above). Donna Summers (and Giorgio Moroder’s) “rags to riches” concept album Once Upon A Time. Originally a double LP in four Acts sides one and four are the disco sides with no breaks between tracks (similar to the MacArthur Park Suite), side three is mostly slower material (with the extraordinary Dance Into My Life) and side two is the electronic side featuring this:

mp3: Donna Summer - Now I Need You (1977)

Vintage Phil

2009-01-30T16:48:00.003Z

There’s not much love for Phil Collins on the blogosphere so I thought I should spread a little on this, his 58th birthday. To celebrate I’ve got an 18-year old Phil (that’s him with the pink vest and long hair) singing Space Child from Flaming Youth’s 1969 concept album Ark 2 which tells the story of man leaving Earth to escape Armageddon (or something).

If you’ve never seen the vinyl version of this album its cover was a real work of art; a three way gatefold sleeve with a stained glass window effect transparency on the front, the lyrics inside and the story on the back cover. For this track it says: “Suddenly, after all, there is a future, for here is the first child born in space. And he has no hang-ups about the past, accepting life with innocent trust.” Just in case you wondered what young Phil was singing about.

mp3: Flaming Youth - Space Child (1969)

Bonus song for those fools who claim that Genesis turned shit the moment Peter Gabriel left:
mp3: Genesis - Ripples (1976)

Be seeing you...

2009-01-14T18:57:00.002Z

In memory of Patrick McGoohan (March 19 1928 - January 13 2009) star of possibly the best TV series ever…

Commence to Dancing

2009-01-09T22:35:00.004Z

Had to get rid of that Santa picture. More music will be posted soon I promise. Until then enjoy Laurel & Hardy dancing to The Gap Band. I can't take any credit for this clip but my boys and I have been enjoying it since we found it around Christmas time (We love these guys).